I learned the meaning of selfless love from Suzanne and Rachel Guy, a mother-daughter political powerhouse based out of Woodstock, Georgia. 

It was a crisp autumn morning in Dahlonega at the University of North Georgia. Our tables were loaded with hot pink pamphlets, posters, and donuts—enticements designed to lure unsuspecting, yet hungry, students into thought-provoking discussions about the concept of “Personhood.” 

In an offhand remark, I told Suzanne that I liked her poncho—a sophisticated, yet warm shawl of dove grey and white, perfectly embodying its wearer. Without hesitation, she took it off and gave it to me. The gesture quite literally took my breath away. I call it my love poncho, and it is now one of my most valued articles of clothing and cherished memories. 

Her daughter, Rachel, is a gentler counterpart to Suzanne’s feisty, sometimes fiery spirit. On this day, as in others, she wears a contemplative expression, but this in no way diminishes the kindness that permeates her every gesture and word. Together, they are the living embodiment of the steel magnolia. Indeed, when you speak to the Guy’s, the light of Jesus shines through their eyes. Hence, their considerable influence in the political landscape of metro Atlanta.

Representatives Advocating for Georgia’s Animals

While Suzanne and Rachel wear many hats, one often overlooked aspect of their lobbying efforts is their advocacy for Georgia’s animals and their adeptness at achieving bipartisan legislation.

Nearly 20 years ago, Suzanne Guy arrived in the state of Georgia and immediately began advocating for animal rights. She took her enthusiasm to the state capital, lobbying on behalf of our four-legged friends in need of representation. As she acquainted herself with animal welfare lobbying groups, she was stunned to learn that she and her family were the only Republican Christians volunteering in these circles. Indeed, members of these animal advocacy groups essentially sent them as missionaries, asking for their help to persuade Christian conservative legislators to champion the cause of animals.

Her efforts were met with surprising hostility. One influential GOP representative bluntly responded that they would not consider legislation for animals until abortion was illegal in the state. Suzanne soon discerned that this “either/or” mindset was pervasive across Georgia. Despite this, she gently suggested that legislators could pursue both causes simultaneously without detriment to either. Her words, largely, fell on deaf ears.

Moreover, Suzanne discovered that many Republicans view animals as mere property, resulting in laws that classify domestic and commercial species with rights similar to inanimate objects—indeed, somewhat less than industrial tractors. In Georgia, the intentional destruction of a tractor warrants a prison sentence and felony charges, consequences significantly more severe than those for harming a living creature. During my conversation with the mother-daughter duo, I learned that Georgia is the only state in the union that refuses to pass legislation making cockfighting an offense greater than a misdemeanor. The Georgia Poultry Coalition (GPC) opposes any form of animal fighting, and HB 217 aims to include cockfighting under Georgia’s dogfighting statute while increasing penalties for bringing a minor to such events. Yet, this bill continues to fail in the legislature. Why? Because too many Republican leaders are subservient to the belief that in rural districts, chicken fighting is not only recreation but an economic boon.

In small towns bordering Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina, small arenas are built to host cockfights, where razors are tied to the legs of chickens, and they are antagonized to fight to the death for human entertainment. At these venues, gambling, drug use, prostitution, and even trafficking occur—essentially resembling Dante’s Inferno’s 7th circle of Hell. While not exactly legal, the law is only as effective as enforcement and the penalty attached to the crime. Suzanne notes however that representatives like Representative Scott Hilton and Senator Chuck Payne labor relentlessly to represent the feathery fowl forced to endure this unspeakable barbarism, through efforts to make chicken fighting a felony in the state of Georgia.

Yet, one must question the veracity of politicians’ claims suggesting that the chicken-fighting lobby is the swing vote in these communities. This notion belies the generally understood principle that the majority of crime is committed by a minority of individuals. While a dark underworld of criminals and degenerates may indeed oppose political action against cockfighting, a significant percentage would likely support efforts to end it, recognizing the need to address the criminal elements within their community.

Politicians unwilling to pass even basic measures to protect chickens from a gruesome fate often cower behind the phrase, “That’s just Georgia.” But is it truly a Georgian value to antagonize and dismember animals for pleasure? The majority of the population would staunchly disagree, even in the deep South.

It Isn’t One or the Other

In our discussion, it became clear that a baffling cognitive dissonance exists among those who fervently support laws protecting human life yet exert little, if any, effort toward animal welfare as if they are mutually exclusive.

It is Rachel’s belief that this chasm potentially stems from either a misapplication or misunderstanding of scripture. In Genesis 1:26-31, mankind is given dominion over the animals of the earth. Some interpret this as being made a lord over the animals, akin to an absolute ruler like King John I with little regard for his subjects, rather than a careful steward. 

This prevailing “either/or” notion hinders the creation of bipartisan legislation providing baseline protections. Both radical ends of the animal rights conversation need to recognize that one need not be a raw vegan to ensure ethical laws, nor support chicken fighting to protect property rights. A moderate middle ground exists where property rights are respected, animals are not savaged or brutalized, and legal systems act on behalf of the abused to defend their rights. This balanced approach can be more effective and widely accepted than extreme positions on either side.

Imagine a world where pro-life organizations collaborated with the Humane Society of Georgia to pass legislation preventing cats from being declawed—an elective surgery that amputates their knuckles. Conversely, envision PETA partnering with the Georgia Life Alliance to pass legislation improving the conditions of incarcerated pregnant women.  

While the targeted focus of these organizations makes them powerful, it can also work to their detriment when opponents accuse them of concentrating on one group to the exclusion of others. For instance, pro-life groups often face accusations of caring only about the preborn, while animal rights groups are sometimes criticized for prioritizing animals over humans. Bipartisan legislation can counter these accusations by providing legal protections and security for those without a voice, demonstrating a balanced and inclusive approach.   

Future Goals

Suzanne and Rachel extend their influence beyond chickens; their protective efforts encompass lobbying groups and charities that work to abolish animal testing facilities and strengthen animal abuse laws.

Most recently this means efforts to block the arrival of a company called “Safer Human Medicine,” which claims on its website, [that its] “goal is to provide researchers with healthy primates, living in clean and humane conditions, to facilitate scientific advancements.” They state, “Primate research has been responsible for countless medical breakthroughs that save and improve human lives.” To that end, they intend to build a facility in Bainbridge Georgia, which could be the largest in the United States hosting as many as “30,000 long-tailed macaques bred for experiments.” 

Yet, the Humane Society writes, “Unlike non-animal methods, which are based on human biology, experiments on monkeys have been shown to be very unreliable when attempting to predict what will happen in humans, given the important biological differences between humans and monkeys.”  

Suzanne and Rachel also strive to bring an end to animal entertainers in the circus. In a recent article in the Marietta Daily Journal, Rachel protests the Yaarab Shrine Circus and Fair at Jim Miller Park. She is quoted to state, “They [circus’] don’t need the elephants to do their shows.” She goes on to ask, “Why animal cruelty in the name of entertainment?” Then states, “It is unnecessary.”  In our conversation, Suzanne reminds me that these creatures often endure a life of punishment all for a 2-hour entertainment. She encourages readers to consider other forms of afternoon pleasure that do not involve treating those who can’t consent as a mere means to an end. Or, phrased plainly, “do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

Role of Christianity in Activism 

When you speak with Suzanne and Rachel, you witness two women genuinely eager to make the world a kinder place. They feel with great intensity the suffering and misfortunes of others. 

They believe that if God blesses individuals with breath, they bear a burden—in a good way—to show His heart of compassion and hope through their actions. It is not enough to merely feel sad about painful situations; there must be a motivation to find solutions to suffering. When someone feels that another is hurt, sadness alone is insufficient. For those with God in their lives, there is a calling to bring hope and healing to the brokenhearted and thus we reveal the heart and spirit of a loving God reaching down to us. 

Yet, the Marietta based pair acknowledge that they cannot serve every cause all the time. When direct action is impossible, they encourage placing the need before God through prayer. No matter how Christians respond, the important thing is to do as they are led. A good rule of thumb, when God allows people to become aware of an issue, they have a mammoth responsibility to address it. Those who love the Lord are compelled to make situations better. After all, compassion has feet. 

Rachel’s hero, William Wilberforce, started the first humane society, even as he destroyed his health and peace of mind over the course of decades to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire, exemplifying this commitment to action. When asked about the sacrifice involved in present-day activism, including managing self-doubt, internal conflict, and antagonistic opposition, Suzanne remarks, 

“When you are so consumed with another’s suffering, you rarely consider your own. Following God means dying to self and caring so much for the victims of oppression that our own needs and self-perception do not enter into it. In the pro-life world, I’ve taken some hits where I have to take it to God to help me understand the in-fighting. I never doubt if I am doing the right thing, but within the camp, especially when I know I’m doing everything in my power to fight the good fight, I strive to forgive and move on. With unity, so much more can be achieved.”

Raising Empathetic Children

Suzanne and Peter’s guidance played a crucial role in shaping Rachel into a godly young woman. Following the wisdom of Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it,” they directed Rachel without controlling her. They believed in nurturing her natural inclinations and encouraging her to develop a relationship with God.

This is supported by Rachel’s own words when asked how Christianity influences her activism, “I asked Jesus into my heart when I was four years old. The Lord blessed me with godly parents, friends, family, church, and biblical soundness. I understood what it meant to have a relationship with God. Growing up, I embraced the idea of God as Lord of my life, which instilled in me a burden for animals and individuals without a voice. The Lord gives His followers a profound sense of others’ brokenness.”

Yet, along with the spiritual, Suzanne and Peter also strongly believe in the power of education as an edifying force. Rachel has attended Chattahoochee Tech and is presently pursuing a Master’s degree in bioethics from Trinity College, reflecting her parents’ commitment to lifelong learning and moral development.

Suzanne emphasizes that everyone, including parents with their children, can take action to make a difference. She believes that people can call legislators with their kids, and everyone can incorporate acts of compassion into their daily routines. Encouraging children to nurture friendships, share, and live out their love for the Lord openly is essential. Suzanne asserts that both people of faith and those without faith can find ways to engage and address the abundant need and hurt in the world.

One of the reasons Suzanne started her pro-life advocacy group was to provide a platform where everyone could contribute to easing pain, righting wrongs, and ending suffering. With more time, dedication, and effort, even small actions can have significant impacts. Every day is filled with pain and suffering for many, and alleviating that hurt, whether for a person, an animal, or both, is a calling everyone can answer – no matter their political identification. 

Suzanne and Peter allowed Rachel to imagine and empathize with others’ trials and tribulations, and then encouraged her to help resolve those issues in age appropriate ways. This approach not only instilled a deep sense of compassion in Rachel but also empowered her to take action, embodying the principles of their faith in tangible ways.

In 2024, Rachel is an educated, thoughtful, compassionate young woman and the founder of a non-profit, His Love and SONshine. Their mission, “is to support Gateway Nursery and Primary School in providing a world-class education to the students of Bwerenga and beyond, growing the next generation of leaders who will change the future of the village, region, and country of Uganda.”  

Conclusion

Suzanne and Rachel demonstrate daily that it is entirely possible to serve the needs of both animals and humans as a way to serve the Lord and show His love and compassion. Through their tireless advocacy and actions, they embody God’s love, proving that His people can be a tangible manifestation of His compassion.

By championing active interventions and enacting laws that reflect God’s heart for His creation, we can transform the phrase “That’s just Georgia” from a defense of harmful cultural norms into a testament to a society that uplifts. Let “That’s just Georgia” mean a place that codifies and edifies living creatures, great and small.